Nicola Sturgeon’s swift reaction to MP rule-breaking shows why she is more popular than Boris Johnson

The first minister of Scotland’s response to Margaret Ferrier travelling across the country while infected with coronavirus is why she gets more credit, writes John Rentoul

Nicola Sturgeon, first minister of Scotland, remains more popular than Boris Johnson

Many people have wondered how the first minister of Scotland has remained so popular during the coronavirus crisis, while the prime minister of the UK has seen the opinion polls turn against him – even though they have pursued essentially the same policies.

Nicola Sturgeon’s swift reaction to the “dangerous and indefensible” actions of Margaret Ferrier, the Scottish National Party MP, illuminates a large part of the explanation. Sturgeon told Ferrier she should stand down as an MP, while explaining that she had no power to force her to do so. 

Sturgeon had been similarly decisive with Catherine Calderwood, the chief medical officer for Scotland, whom she did have the power to sack. Calderwood resigned in April after breaking her own advice by visiting her second home with her family.